Baseball Sweeps Augsburg 9-5 and 8-7; Konicek Goes 9-for-11 On The Day

MINNEAPOLIS (4/15/06) — Tony Konicek (Jr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) went 9-for-11 in the doubleheader, reaching base 10 of the 11 times he batted, leading Gustavus Adolphus College to a sweep of host Augsburg College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball action on Saturday afternoon at Parade Stadium.

Konicek went 5-for-5 with three doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in the Gusties’ 9-5, first-game victory, then went 4-for-6 with a double in the Gusties 8-7, second-game victory in 11 innings. He also reached base on an error in the second game.

Aaron Madson (Sr., North Mankato, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran HS) hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the second game, and Wade Vrieze (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) hit a solo homer in the top of the 11th inning for the game-winning run for the Gusties, now 14-9 overall, 4-4 in MIAC play.

Troy Deden (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) had two hits in each game of the doubleheader, while Mike Zaun (So., Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) went 4-for-4 in the second game for the Auggies, now 14-10-1 overall, 4-4 in MIAC play.

After Augsburg took a 5-4 lead in the third inning of the first game, Gustavus scored five runs in the final four innings to clinch the win. RBI singles by Konicek and Shea Roehrkasse (So., Jackson Hole, Wyo.) gave the Gusties a 6-5 lead in the fourth, and a single by Konicek plated another run in the fifth. Vrieze scored on a throwing error in the seventh, while Madson drove in a run on a single.

Konicek’s double plated a run in the first inning for the Gusties, while Augsburg scored as Ricky Schreier (Jr., St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) scored on an error. Gustavus scored three runs in the third, as Konicek doubled to drive in a run, another run came across on an error and Roehrkasse singled in a run. But Augsburg scored four runs in the bottom of the frame, as Andy Nelson (Sr., Waseca, Minn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Andrew Werner (So., Vermillion, Minn./Hastings HS) cleared the bases with a three-run double.

Roehrkasse, Madson and Tyler Kaus (So., St. James, Minn.) had two hits each for the Gusties, who collected 14 hits in the game. Augsburg was limited to just seven hits, but committed four errors.

In the second game, Gustavus scored three runs in the first inning, as Madson hit a two-run homer to left and Roehrkasse singled to plate a run. But Augsburg scored five runs in the bottom of the frame — on a two-run double by Ginther and RBI singles by Deden, Tim Wahl (Jr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) and Eric Dunivent (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.).

Gustavus scored twice in the third, on a two-run single by Vrieze, and once in the fourth, on a sacrifice fly by Madson. Augsburg scored once in the fourth, on a sacrifice fly by Wahl, and once in the sixth, on a single by Zaun which plated Ginther.

But Gustavus tied the game in the top of the seventh, as Anders Schmidt (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) doubled, and pinch-runner Robby Wiens (So., Burnsville, Minn.) scored on a single by Vrieze.

Augsburg had the potential game-winning run at third in the sevent, but could not score as the inning ended on a flyout. Augsburg stranded four runners on base in extra innings, as did Gustavus.

After Gustavus scored in the 11th on Vrieze’s solo homer, Augsburg had two runners aboard on back-to-back singles in the bottom of the frame. But a runner was forced at third on a sacrifice-bunt attempt, and the game ended on a 6-4-3 double play, with a diving stop by shortstop Mike DesLauriers (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret HS) to start the game-ending double-play.

Madson, Roehrkasse and Vrieze had three hits each for the Gusties in the second game, with Madson driving in three runs and Vrieze driving in four. Ben Sherer (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.) and Kaus had two hits each.

Gustavus had 18 hits in the second game, while Augsburg had 16 hits. However, Gustavus stranded 13 runners on base, while Augsburg stranded 14 runners.

Five pitchers threw in the game for Gustavus, with Chad Schnettler (So., Sartell, Minn.) scoring the win with two innings of relief. Tyler Kraft (Jr., Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS) threw 5.1 innings of relief of Augsburg starter Werner.

Both teams return to MIAC play with doubleheaders on Wednesday (4/19) at 2:30 p.m., as Augsburg plays at Carleton and Gustavus plays at Concordia-Moorhead.